Malaysian Female Scientist Receives IUPAC Honour

Photo courtesy of ScienceAndShe KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Dr Magaret Sivapragasam, a Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP or a Malaysian private research university) postdoctoral research scientist at the Centre of Research Ionic Liquids, has been chosen as one of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry’s (IUPAC) ‘Periodic…

China’s desire for close Iran ties unchanged, Xi says ahead of Saudi prince’s visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with visiting Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 20, 2019.  Photo courtesy IRNA BEIJING, China, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) – China’s desire to develop close ties with Iran will remain unchanged, regardless of…

Bangladesh building fire kills 65

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) – At least 69 people have died in a huge blaze that tore through apartment buildings also used as chemical warehouses in an old part of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, fire officials said Thursday. Dozens of people were trapped in the buildings, unable to escape…

US refuses entry to Alabama woman who joined Daesh

Photo courtesy Anadolu WASHINGTON, Feb 21 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that an American woman who fled the U.S. to join the Daesh terrorist group in Syria would not be taken back to the country. Hoda Muthana first left the U.S. when she was 20 years…

Saudi Prince expects investment in India worth over $100B

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for a photograph during a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. Photo courtesy MEAIndia NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman…

Sirul Azhar can be extradited on one condition

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, can be extradited even before the death penalty is abolished in Malaysia as long as an undertaking is provided that his death penalty will not be carried out. A spokesperson…

Trump in ‘no rush’ to push North Korea to denuclearise

WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) – US President Donald Trump said Tuesday (Feb 19) that while he hoped his next meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would yield much progress, he was also in “no rush” for results. “I’d like to see ultimately denuclearization of North Korea,” he told reporters,…

Malaysian convicted of murdering Mongolian model stands to be deported as court rejects asylum bid

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (NNN) — Sirul Azhar Umar, a former bodyguard who was sentenced to death in 2015 for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, could be deported from Australia where he is currently in detention as his appeal for political asylum in Australia has been rejected. The…

Malaysia’s former DPM Zahid slapped with another CBT charge

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s former deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, was today slapped with another charge of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM260,000 belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi. The 66-year-old, who is also opposition party UMNO’s president, however, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial after the…

Malaysian entertainment centre fire kills at least 6

Firefighters are searching for bodies of victims trapped in a fire at an entertainment centre at Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, on Feb 20, 2019. Photo courtesy Bernama IPOH, Feb 20 (NNN- BERNAMA) – A fire at an entertainment centre here early today resulted in the deaths of six people,…